House Holds Leon Black In Contempt Over Epstein

The House unanimously voted to hold former Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black in contempt of Congress for defying two subpoenas related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The vote came one day after the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed a resolution recommending Black be held in contempt over his refusal to comply with the subpoenas. Speaker Mike Johnson could refer Black’s conduct to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for possible criminal prosecution.

Defendants convicted of contempt of Congress face between one and 12 months in prison.

The Oversight Committee was investigating how the federal government failed the alleged survivors of Epstein and his partner, Ghislaine Maxwell, and how Epstein used his influence to “avoid scrutiny,” according to the committee. Black had a personal and financial relationship with Epstein for decades and paid Epstein at least $158 million after he became a registered sex offender.

In March, Comer sent a letter to Black requesting a transcribed interview as part of the committee’s investigation, according to the Oversight Committee. Comer issued the two subpoenas during the interview requesting that Black produce nondisclosure agreements and appear for a deposition on July 16. The committee agreed to delay the deposition until Sept. 3.

Black failed to appear for a Sept. 3 deposition and did not produce copies of the requested nondisclosure agreements.

“No one is above the law,” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said in a Wednesday statement. “Leon Black defied two subpoenas, and the U.S. House of Representatives acted swiftly to find him in contempt of Congress. We will continue to seek transparency for the American people and justice for survivors in our investigation of the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell criminal cases.”

Oversight Committee ranking member Robert Garcia said the vote was an “important step” toward holding Black accountable.

“This vote is an important step towards justice and accountability,” Garcia said. “Leon Black has continued to defy two congressional subpoenas and we need to know why he gave Jeffrey Epstein $180 million dollars. We will continue to center the survivors in our fight to hold those responsible for these horrific crimes. We are just getting started.”

Black sued the committee and Comer on Sept. 3 attempting to block the subpoenas, according to CNBC. The case is currently pending in the U.S. District Court of Washington.

“The subpoenas are invalid to the extent they exceed [the committee’s] delegated authority in seeking private information that bears no legitimate connection to [its] legislative purpose,” the suit read.

Black’s lawyers accused the committee Wednesday of abusing “their Congressional power” and of breaking the law, according to CNBC.

“Our lawsuit shows the Committee and Chairman Comer abused their Congressional power and broke the law,” the attorneys said.

Black stepped down as Apollo’s chief executive officer in March 2021, two months after the firm disclosed that he paid Epstein $158 million for tax and estate planning advice from 2012 to 2017.